Whats happening?
- Israeli airstrikes targeted Syrian military installations in Damascus and southern regions.
- Syrian security forces and tanks began withdrawing from the city of Sweida following ceasefire efforts.
- The United States announced that all parties have agreed on steps to end the conflict by Wednesday night.
- The UN Security Council is scheduled to convene on Thursday to address the crisis.
- Israel pledged to defend Druze communities, citing ongoing threats in southern Syria.
- Violence in southern Syria has resulted in dozens of deaths, sparking international concern.
DAMASCUS, July 17 — Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa declared early Thursday that protecting the country’s Druze minority is a top priority, following a wave of powerful Israeli airstrikes on Damascus the previous day.
In his first televised address since the strikes, Sharaa emphasized that the government “rejects any attempt to drag [the Druze] into the hands of an external party,” amid rising regional tensions and a fragile ceasefire in southern Syria.
“We are not among those who fear war,” Sharaa said, addressing the Druze community directly. “We have spent our lives facing challenges and defending our people, but we have put the interests of the Syrians before chaos and destruction.”
The statement comes as Israel continues to target Syrian military forces in the south, vowing to eliminate any units it claims are threatening Druze populations in the Sweida region. The escalating violence has already claimed dozens of lives, with international efforts underway to halt further clashes.
Sharaa warned that while Syria does not seek war, it will not hesitate to fight if the nation’s dignity is at risk. “The Syrian people are not afraid of war,” he said. “We are ready to defend ourselves if necessary.”
The United States on Wednesday said that all parties had agreed to “specific steps” to end the violence, with a ceasefire reportedly taking hold in parts of southern Syria. The UN Security Council is set to meet Thursday to discuss the crisis.
